drtoliver

Please hang in there. I went throught what you are going through only for a good while. Especially on Father's Day when we took my dad to Ryan's and everyone around me was eating and all I could have was sf Jello. It was completely depressing. But then I realized that the real reason I cried was I was really learning to say goodbye to old habits, the ones that got me into this mess, and it is like saying goodbye to an old "friend". Not a healthy one, but a familiar one. There is not a person single person on this list that has not felt this in one form or another at some point in their journey. So, as stated before, you are not alone by any means. Just know that you are doing the right thing for you and your health and sometimes the right things are not always the easy things!! We are all here for you, so just keep on keeping on!!!!!

How far out from surgery could you still be having gas pains. I had surgery on 6/10/09 and for some reason today, I have had what I believe to be gas pains in my left shoulder blade and right at the incision where the port is. It is a dull, throbbing pain instead of a sharp pain. More annoying than anything else. I have emailed my surgeon the same question, but was curious as to what others thought. Night before last I had a little smushed refried, fat free Beans for dinner. I am at the mushy stage now. Thoughts?:redface:

I am finally approved!!!!!!! It only took a week or so. I am so excited and scared all at the same time!!! The only dark spot is that the determination is only good for 60 days so I have eight weeks to get the surgery scheduled and done or a new request will have to be submitted. But everything else is completed so it should be no problem!!!!!!!!:Banane01::purplebananna:

Surgery went very well. I am down 11 pounds since June 10th. I was home by June 11 at 7:00 pm. Very little pain. Mostly when I woke up and they asked immediately and gave me something immediately for the pain. No sickness or anything like that. I have not had any problems, except I am tired of the liquid phase. You would think that I would like having sugar free pudding, Jello, popsicles, etc. But after a certain amount of time, it gets old. However, I am on the home stretch. I start mushies next week, so I am excited. The blender is ready and waiting. I also have been walking almost two miles a day and the exercise helps a great deal. Especially right after surgery. Walk, walk, walk. I had very little gas pains at all. Let me know how you are doing. I will be glad to be a support system for you!!!! D:thumbup:

My banding is on June 10th and I only have to do two days of clear liquids. My head is killing me right now. Not so much hungry, but very tired and sluggish. I, too, am worried about the anesthesia and waking up. I have been saying lots of prayers for a while now. Luckily, I am the first sugery of the day, must be at the hospital my 6:00 a.m. I am so excited, not just for myself but for everyone else. This will be an exciting journey to say the least.:grouphug:

Yes, you are right, I am not in control of that portion of the process. We will get through this, and be the better for it. That should be a saying!!!

JulieM, I am scheduled for June 10th also. I only have to do two days of clear liquid 48 hours prior to surgery, so Monday and Tuesday will be yucky, but exciting. I am getting a little nervous, how about you. The only thing that scares me is being put to sleep. I am not worried about the pain or being able to eat or anything like that. I won't have access to a computer until I come back to work, but I will let you all know how it went when I come back on the 16th of June.

How long will your pre-op diet be? Are they just starting the process or has your insurance approved and these are just the steps before you have surgery. If so, it may only be a matter of a week or two before surgery!!!!! Yeah!!!!! I am getting nervous as a, well, you can fill in the blanks. But at the same time, I am so excited to get this journey underway. Who is the surgeon again?

Yep, I have completed everything and the only thing left is an ultrasound of my gallbladder, meet with the PA (Friday, June 5th) and meet with the surgeon on Tuesday, June 9th and surgery June 10th (Wednesday)!!!!!! Stress test came back normal, so everything is a go, with no worries. I imagine that they will tell me on Friday, the 5th, what I can and can't have to eat/drink, etc. Let me know how you are doing? And if you are not getting the response you want, don't give up!!!!! Keep pushing, it will happen.

Yes, it will be worth it!!!! I am sure of it. If you are anything like me, it will be wonderful to be able to walk up and down steps without turning sideways cause you are scared your knees will go, or be able to get out of your car without pushing yourself up with the steering wheel. These are all things I won't miss at all. You will be in my prayers for June 1!!!!

Cool!! Is Dr. Nease doing your surgery? We should stay in touch because I know me, I will need the encouragement. They have not given me a pre-op diet yet. But I will find out on the 5th of June what they expect. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

Shaun: It won't be as long as it has been, I promise!! I have been on this journey since May of last year. You will get there!!!! And . . . it will be fabulous!!!!! Hugs, D:smile:

My surgery is June 10th, Cabell-Huntington Hospital!! Yipee!!!!! I am so very excited!!!!!! I can hardly stand it. I have two more appointments to go to one on the 5th for an ultrasound and the other on the 9th which is just a meeting with the surgeon!!!!!! I feel so blessed!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup::lol:

Congratulations!!! I am scheduled to have surgery early June (don't have a date yet) with Dr. Nease in Hunington.

Whitwolf, I am so very happy for you!!!! Let me know when you get a surgery date, who knows, we may even be banded at the same time. Woot!!!!!

I will be banded in July. Approved yesterday, and must have stress test on Wednesday (ughhhhh!!) and will have July sugery date by the end of the week!!

Check and if you did not get a letter, have your doctor's office call BCBS - there may be a problem with the information sent in. And it may be something as small as a form that was not signed. On another note, at the same time, I learned that I have to have a stress test. Uggghhh!!!!!!! Will the hoops ever stop!!!! But this is not the insurance company, it is the surgeon's office and they told me that they would still schedule me for surgery, but must have the test done. So, I am scheduled for in the morning at 7:30 a.m.:redface:

All the steps are now completed and I am waiting on approval from BCBS - Mountain State. Has anyone on this board had any experience with their approval process. I suppose I am getting discouraged because of all the hoops I have had to jump through, starting with my PCP losing the paperwork, not filling it out, filling it out incorrectly and finally after 8 months finally getting it right so that everything could be submitted to the insurance company by the surgeon's office. I hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel because I want to get this party started!!!:cool2:

I read somewhere that it only took seven to ten working days. I guess no news is good news. As you read before, it took my PCP forever to complete his part of the process. That was the big hold-up in everything. The surgeon's office moved quickly and got their part completed in what I think was record time.

How long have you been waiting? It feels like forever for me. But it has only been a week. Which surgeon is doing your surgery? I have Dr. Nease in Huntington, WV. Feel free to email me if you wish. I could use all the support I can get these days.